UCB 2010 Predictions: American League

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It is a necessary evil during our United Cardinal Bloggers’ prediction project that we take a look at the Junior Circuit and pontificate on how they will finish.

As such, here is my list of the American League divisions and my expected order of finish in each.

AL East

New York Yankees

Tampa Bay Rays

Boston Red Sox

Baltimore Orioles

Toronto Blue Jays

Yankees: How can you pick against this team right now? Defending World Series Champions, had to “restrain” themselves during this off-season because the big free agents were at positions they didn’t have to fill, still favorites to win this league, IMO. … Rays: Most teams in the league would kill to have this much young talent. It’s unfortunate for the Rays that they find themselves in this division. … Red Sox: Father Time catching up with the BoSox? Could be. Or they can just release more high-salaried players and replace them with internal talent and continue to win. … Orioles: Finally building a solid young nucleus, time to add pitching around them, and Matusz is a good start. … Blue Jays: Removing Halladay removes wins. Now if only they could extract that Vernon Wells contract, they might be on to something. Possible Brett Wallace sighting in 2010?

AL Central

Chicago White Sox

Minnesota Twins

Detroit Tigers

Cleveland Indians

Kansas City Royals

White Sox: Similar to the NL Central, the best of a bad bunch? Aging team, dynamic manager, solid starting pitching. …Twins: This team will go as far as their retooled bullpen will take them. How much will loss of Joe Nathan hurt? … Tigers: Could easily swap spots with the White Sox – aging team that could dominate with common resurgent seasons. … Indians: Again beginning the process of amassing young talent, they’ve got a ways to go, but road to the top in this division could be short. … Royals: I hear the renovations at Kauffman Stadium are excellent.

AL West

Seattle Mariners

Texas Rangers

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Oakland Athletics

Mariners: Everyone’s darling of the off-season, new M’s GM Jack Zduriencik made what many thought were very prudent moves to improve his team. Injuries are already wreaking havoc on the roster, but this team has developed depth. … Rangers: A team that could already mash has added pitching depth. Could be the surprise dominant team of the American League this season. … Angels: Like the White Sox and Tigers, this seems to be a fading bunch, depleted by age and free agent departures. If we know anything, manager Mike Scioscia will have this team prepared and ready to win. … Athletics: Ever wonder if Billy Beane had wished he took one of those higher profile, higher payroll jobs offered after Moneyball came out?

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Writing about the Cardinals and other loosely associated topics since 2008, I've grown tired of the April run-out only to disappoint Cardinal fans everywhere by mid-May. I do not believe in surrendering free outs.